Early on the evening of October 22, people light bonfires along the narrow street leading to the Kuramadera Shrine in Kurama, a village in the mountains north of Kyoto, Japan. Fire is a purifying element according to Shinto, and the village is believed to be protected from accidents on this night. Soon after dusk, people light torches: even babies are allowed to carry tiny torches made out of twigs. Young men carry large torches—sometimes, it takes several men to keep them upright. As they walk through the streets, everyone chants rhythmically, "Sai-rei! Sai-ryo!" ("Festival, good festival!") Discussfrom Today's Holiday http://ift.tt/128DytS
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